Over 25 complaints of minor abuse reported to CWC every month
Gurugram: There may be outrage among residents over the rape of a 6-year-old in national capital but official data reveals that even its neighbour Gurugram has failed to protect its children. On an average, 10 cases get registered in city police stations regarding sexual crimes against minors every month. What is even more worrying is that over 25 cases are being heard every month by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
According to the officials of CWC, the main reason why they are being approached is due to the complexities in the law and embarrassment faced during the police investigations.
The most depressing aspect of all these cruelty against minors, recently came forward after a 16-year-old gave birth to a baby girl after her neighbour raped her several times. She has not accepted her baby and there is a possibility that the baby girl is being sent to the orphanage. In just six months, the Millennium city is all set to break the criminal records that were registered in full year. According to the police records till the month of June, there have been already 59 cases of rape and 107 formal complaints of molestation. What is more shocking and disturbing is an exponential rise in crime against the minors. In just six months, the city has witnessed more than 100 cases of sexual assault against minors.
In all, 79 cases of crimes have been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences act (POCSO) till July. In addition, 40 cases were registered under abduction, human trafficking and forced child labour. "A greater challenge today lies in convincing the parents and the child to be patient in the entire process of law proceedings. The rigours of the law takes its toll and most of the parents back out during the process," said a senior police official from Gurugram police.
Gurugram along with its counterpart Faridabad is leading in terms of sexual crimes against minors. In 2017, there were 106 cases of sexual crimes against minors while in 2016 there were 115.
Not only sexual crimes but the law enforcement officials also have to deal with increased cases of human trafficking. In 2017, 154 minors were kidnapped from the city out of which 115 were girls. In 2012 to 2017, over 1,062 children were kidnapped in which 677 are girls. According to Gurugram police, the gangs from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are highly active in committing such crimes.
